Candy Apple Grey

Performer: Hüsker Dü
Engineer: Steve Fjelstad
Producer: Grant Hart; Bob Mould
Distributor: Alternative Dis. Alliance

Notes: Husker Du: Bob Mould (vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion); Grant Hart (vocals, keyboards, drums, percussion); Greg Norton (bass); Recorded at Nicollet Studios, Minneapolis, Minnesota from October 1985 to January 1986. Personnel: Bob Mould (vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion); Grant Hart (vocals, keyboards, drums, percussion); Greg Norton (bass guitar). Recording information: Nicollet Studios, Minneapolis, MN (10/1985-01/1986). Photographer: Daniel Corrigan. After six releases on the indie label SST, the Huskers finally jumped to the majors for CANDY APPLE GREY--though not surprisingly, since it was their most polished effort in terms of production. Yet the general tone is every bit as despairing as ever. At this point, Mould and Hart were moving apart from one another due to personal and creative differences, and it is clear that there are two very different songwriters at work here. Mould sounds like the living embodiment of angst as he shouts himself hoarse on the thrashy opener, "Crystal." On "Eiffel Tower High," he manages to make the lines "she walked out to the lobby/for a box of Junior Mints" sound like the poignant ending of a tragic romance. But on the soft, elegiac "Too Far Down" and "Hardly Getting Over It," Mould's singing is uncharacteristically subdued and conveys real heartbreak for the first time on a Husker Du record. Grant Hart mellows out, too, on "No Promise Have I Made," but straightforward pop-rockers like "Don't Want To Know If You Are Lonely" and "Dead Set on Destruction" are where he really shines.

Q (11/92, p.133) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "..like Nirvana, who have had more than their share of Husker comparisons, they have the unusual ability to make every song, every moment even, sound like it could possibly be their last.." NME (Magazine) (8/12/00, p.29) - Ranked #17 in The NME "Top 30 Heartbreak Albums" - "...Completely unleavened by any kind of happiness at all. It began with a wail, and an intensely bleak shower of guitars..."

In a relatively brief career that began in 1979 and ended in 1987, Husker Du left an indelible mark, making a great impact on subsequent rock trends including grunge, alternative, and emo. The Minneapolis trio had its first major success on the fabled SST label, playing thrashy hardcore. Soon the band began to leaven its fierce attack with melodic hooks and harmony vocals. Through uncompromising records and relentless touring, Husker Du earned critical plaudits and built up a reputation among rock aficionados before its acrimonious breakup. Singer Bob Mould went on to success with Sugar and as a solo artist.

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